Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.3-pct for second straight day

Jun 15, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed up at 0.33 percent for a second consecutive session with index heavy stocks making gains Monday, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed 17.69 points higher at 7,78.97 up 0.33 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 12.95 points higher at 3,926.96, up 0.25 percent. Turnover was 730 million, down from 1.6 billion rupees Friday with 89 stocks closing positive against 82 negative. The top gainers were Nestle Lanka closing at 2,130.00 rupees, up 30.00 rupees and Ceylon Tobacco Company closing at 915.00 rupees, up 5.00 rupees. Dialog Axiata closed at 11.40 rupees, up 0.30 rupees. John Keells Holdings closed at 194.40 rupees up 0.10 rupees with a off the floor trade of 148,000 shares recorded at 193.00 rupees. “Crossing accounted for 37 percent of the days turnover,” Lanka Securities said. In the banking sector, Nations Trust Bank closed at 97.60 rupee, up 1.60 rupees with a off the floor trade of over 2.5 million shares at 98.00 rupees. Sampath Bank closed flat at 255.00 rupees and DFCC closed at 206.50 rupees, down 0.80 rupee. Commercial Bank closed at 163.00 rupees, up 2.00 rupees.